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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Relationships are fragile and we often take the ones we love for granted. We abuse them at times without even realizing it. It's always been said, "you hurt the ones you love the most." However, I honestly believe that is an excuse that we have all come to use and abuse. I know I have used it and I have heard close loved ones use it. But, I believe we need to stop using excuses and start putting into perspective the reality that often we get lazy and simply careless.

All too often we think we can get away with anything when we are with the people who love us; and a lot of times we do. A careless word; a negligent irrespectful act; simply laziness are all examples. While it is true that they will extend to us their utmost understanding, it is also true that they are but human beings after all, and will eventually grow tired and weary in trying to extend compassion and understanding to our "neglect and carelessness."

Carelessness and neglect can hurt a relationship more than intended slights or conscious arguments. However, they are often the burning bridge that create the carelessness and neglect. I've often wondered if relationships simply have their own life cycle. What I have realized is, it is up to us to tell how those phases of the cycle will occur. If we do not nurture the ones we love, care for them and take the time to develop them and keep them going, then the cycle will end all too soon. Same way with your relationship with God. If you do not nurture your relationship with God then how can you expect him to be there for you in your time of need.

I relate it to having a great performance horse. Your expectations of that horse is to perform at their maximum capabilities every trip out. You have to learn first that every great horse will have their moments of laziness and may even revert back to an old habit. But, you have to go back to the "foundations and basics" as a gentle reminder of what the expectations are, right? I mean, you wouldn't take a $30,000.00 performance horse and just because of one bad run throw him out to pasture and forget about him, right? No! You would take care of that animal, first checking to make certain there was no soreness or reasons for the way he just violated you out of a nice pay check. Would you be frustrated? Probably! Most likely you would even make a comment or two that could be hurtful or share your disappointment. But in the long-run, You would continue to nurture, train and care for that animal and keep trying. I mean, after all, you purchased that horse because you saw something great in him. Yes, your expectations were high, but you knew there would be a need to start off slow and develop and build a trusting/loving relationship with that animal.

Now, if your frustrations continue to grow, you may become careless and neglectful towards that animal. Your expectations are lowered and as a result if you do not take the time to maintain one and you run them into the ground, not feeding them properly and giving them all the nutrients they need to stay healthy and strong; then they will eventually stop performing and ultimately end up dying - just like a once healthy relationship. They too will give up. This is a bad combination.

When you first bought into your marriage or relationship, you seen something wonderful about that person. You seen a winner! You devoted to give your heart and soul to that relationship and vowed before God that you would honor, love, obey, cherish and protect, until death do you part. Well, now it's time for you to hold up your end of the bargain and do what you always expect out of them. Take care of and love one another. Nurture it and go back to the basics and the foundation and put the time and effort into maintaining the healthy balance required to stay a "winner" and healthy! Do not let laziness and others get in your way. Take time to balance out your relationship. Learn that the grass is not always greener on the other side....

Our relationship with God is just as important. It is the foundation to maintaining a healthy relationship with our spouse. Developing and devoting time to God is of the utmost importance as to learning how to develop your relationship with your spouse and loved ones. If you do not have a healthy foundation to grow from and to stand on then you cannot expect your relationships to be strong and healthy. You have to start with a daily walk with God learning his ways and striving to please him and not yourself. You have to learn to lean on God and not so much on your spouse or relationship for they too are weak and cannot bear the load at times. Learn to be an example for others and one that they will desire to have what you have.

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, thatshall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

We must give God the respect that He requires and deserves. We need to learn to fear the Lord and obey his word. It is what will be the solid foundation of every aspect of our relationships. We need to get out of the ME mode and into the HIM mode. He knows what we're going through and sees what we are doing. We are not fooling Him.

Hopefully you will take care of your relationship first with God and then take care of what God has given you. Remember, it is much harder and costly to bring back a sick horse than it is to simply maintain a healthy one.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

All my life I have had a tremendous compassion for people hurting. Maybe it is because I have had my share of trouble too. When you have suffered, it makes you able to relate to other people's pain.

God has blessed me with wonderful parents, siblings, husband, nieces and nephews, and friends; and yet I still lack the ability to be a Mother, which is something I so desire to be. I may not fully understand the reason why, and maybe I never will, but I have the faith to know that I serve a God that holds tomorrow and knows the future; therefore I have to trust that all good things come to those who wait. You have to trust God that he has something bigger and better in your future than your own desires, regardless of how hard it is.

As a friend, I have found that I have a ministry of hugs. To some it may sound silly and maybe it's not much to others, but to those in need at that time, a hug is like a gift - surrounding someone else with love and kindness is worth more than some realize. It's a simple act, and costs nothing, but when wrapped with sincerity it is priceless! I may not be able to solve the world's problems or change how people treat each other, or take away their pain, but I can provide a hug! I can also let you know that a hug and a smile go a long ways to a person who is hurting.

I am trying to learn that everything happens for a reason and not spend so much time dwelling on the negative, but instead to focus on the positive. I also know that the touch of the Master's hand sets us free. The devil will try to destroy all that is pure and precious to us, but if we trust the Lord to guide us and deliver us then we will prevail.

I can tell you that regardless of what you're going through, what your past holds, or what you feel you have lost, He will give it back to you. If you will place your trust and faith in the Lord then you can lift your hands in praise. No matter what you have suffered, you can hold up your head. Regardless of who has hurt you, hold your head high. Forget how many times you've been wronged, what you have lost, hold your head high. You cannot change where you have been, but you can change where you are going!!

You are a survivor. Celebrate your survival. Instead of agonizing over your tragedies, celebrate your victory and thank God you made it. Then, after you have had some time to heal, use your experiences to help bring healing to someone else. Perhaps you, too, will have a ministry of hugs! Maybe even more!

Ezekiel 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh! I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

So, the next time you see someone in need....reach out and HUG them...it could be just what they need!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

I have come to realize more and more that the greatest disease and the greatest suffering is to be unwanted, unloved, uncared for, to be shunned by everybody, to be just nobody.

But what most forget is that we are all wanted, loved and cared for by Jesus. How much more do you need to be convinced than for Him to stretch his arms wide, be nailed to the Cross and die so that we may live!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life!

Good morning!! Time to rise & shine!! Got my morning java & going out to battle my way through this horrendous wind!! ~~ It's Tuesday - which means we survived Monday!

Today's Tip: God gives you everything you need to help yourself so don't sit back and expect God to do it for you!!

So often we call upon the Lord to give us something but when he delivers we seldom act upon it and then complain because we think God didn't answer our prayers - when all along we were lazy with what he gave us! We take advantage of him and never ask forgiveness. My challenge to you is to do more with less! Praise God without asking for anything! Praise him in the morning, praise him in the noon time - Praise him just because he gives us a second chance every morning to make the best of the day before us! Remember, in the end, you control your own destiny and it's all up to you to do something marvelous with what he gives you!! What will you do with today?

Today's Verse: Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10)

Monday, October 25, 2010

WHAT HAPPENS IN HEAVEN WHEN WE PRAY? This is one of the nicest e-mails I have seen and is so true:

A person dreamed that they went to Heaven and an angel was showing her around.

She walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. The angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, ' This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received. I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.

Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section. The angel then said to her, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them." I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.

Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section, my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed."

How is it that there is no work going on here? ' I asked.

"So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments"

"How does one acknowledge God's blessings? " I asked..

"Simple," the angel answered. Just say, "Thank you, Lord."

"What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked.

"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world 's wealthy. "

"And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."

"If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day. "

"If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... You are ahead of 700 million people in the world."

"If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world."

"If your parents are still alive and still married ...you are very rare."

"If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair......."

Ok, what now? How can I start?

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and if you care to, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are

ATTN: Acknowledge Dept. "Thank you Lord, for so many wonderful blessings, for giving me the ability to share this message and for giving me so many wonderful people with whom to share it. "

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

It's hard to believe that two years ago today our family lost a great young man! He was taken from us all too soon. Although it's been two years, the pain is still just as real today as it was then. Michael was a young 23 years old (just 10 days shy of turning 24) when he went to meet our Lord. Michael is my cousin and besides endless memories, he left behind a beautiful daughter, brother, parents and many, many loved ones!

To say Michael left a legacy would be an understatement. His early departure from this world left a whole in many hearts. He was such a kind, gentle soul, who loved everyone and everyone loved him! He enjoyed the sound of laughter, which mostly he created! He often was the contributor and author of many pranks and jokes at family functions; and he was the best cousin and friend anyone could ever have. Michael loved the sport of Rodeo and participated, with his family, in the sport since he was just a little man!

I'll never understand why God has a need to take the good ones so young in life, but I also know that we're not supposed to question God's will, right? Well, as humans it's obvious that we do not always hold up our end of the bargain and yes, we do question the likings of "life!"

More than anything I wish he were still here with us - but guess I'll have to settle with knowing he's watching over us!

Rest In Peace!!

October 30, 1984 - October 20, 2008

Loving Father, Husband, Brother, Son, Best Friend and Family Man!

I love you & miss you so very much.......even to this day I cry & laugh when I think of you!! I know you're watching over us...and probably shaking your head at us! Hope you and Kate are winning the rodeos together! You may be gone - but you're not forgotten!

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one cansteal"

It's really true that when someone you love becomes a memory, memories become a treasure!

Angel Standing By

(By: Karen-Ashley Murray)

I gaze outside my window

And wish upon a star

I open up my heart

And let my thoughts drift afar

A tear rolls down my cheek

As I reminisce the past

You hardly got to live

Your life went by so fast

And all because someone else

Made a dumb mistake

I don't understand why it was

Your life he had to take

But now there's no way I can bring you back

No matter how hard I try

Because now you're up in heaven

As my angel standing by

(John 14:27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

If God were to examine your heart what would he find? Would he find a broken one, a lonely one, a cheerful one, selfish...the list could go on, and on and on...

I can tell you, as for me, if God were to examine my heart he would find one that is full of love for him! And a heart that is full of love for my family and friends! But he would also find a little bit of selfishness, lots of cheer and occasionally...he would find a little bit of anger. Yes, you guess it - he would not find perfection - by far!! I'm guessing if your heart were to be examined he would find a lot of the same thing. None of us are perfect, nor does he expect us to be. Proverbs 4:23 "Keep my heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life"

However, he would find that I desire to live an honest, humble and "likable" life. Likable? Yes, I often find I spend so much time trying to please others, that I often forget about myself. I get ran over, chewed up and spit out; which in turn, after a while, causes bitter and anger and lots of disappointment to rise up to the surface and begin to clog my arteries. But who is to blame? Me! God gave us wisdom to use wisely! He gives us knowledge to know when to draw a line in the sand and say "enough is enough." What he forgot to install in me is a sense of 'when' to draw that line. I also have to continually remind myself that often people do not mean to be hurtful but it does happen. Also, you have to look inward and make certain you didn't misinterpret something causing more harm than intended. You have to learn to have a forgiving heart, because again, if he were to examine our hearts he would not find perfection.

I would encourage you to examine your own heart. Are you saving enough time for yourself and your family? Are you spending enough alone time with God to be renewed and refreshed daily in order to keep yourself on the right path? Life is literally flying by us with little to no warning. Some of us need to learn that life is not going to stop or stand still just because you have a broken heart, or a cheerful heart - but what it will do is keep ticking on...and it will not ask for permission or forgiveness.

1 Peter 1:22 "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently."

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Be courageous, and stand up for what you believe in; protect your own heart and make certain that you keep the blood flowing through it so that you do not allow the nonsense to clog your arteries. Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Be a good steward, and one always with good intentions! Try to be mindful of others heart and that we are all unique and made in His image...but that no one is perfect...

Monday, October 18, 2010

Some people think that real faith means having no feelings. But I believe that life without feelings is like a dry riverbed. Water is what gives the river activity and life. On the other hand, feelings that are out of control are like raging flood-waters. Just as a river must remain within its banks, you must express your emotions without allowing them to run rampant.

Emotional pain is to the spirit what physical pain is to the body. Physical pain warns you that something in your body is out of order and requires attention, that you are not well. Emotional pain also points to an area where healing or restoration is needed. You dare not ignore these signals, nor should you let them control you.

It is important to understand the difference between minor and major adjustments. The removal of a person from your life may be painful, but it is not a major adjustment. Whether you realize it or not, people are being born and dying every day. They are coming and going, marrying and divorcing, falling in love and falling out of love. You can survive the loss of people, but you cannot survive without God! He is the force that allows you to overcome when people have taken you under. His grace enables you to overcome! When you have completed the full cycle of survival, the experiences in your life will produce no pain, only peace.

The Lord is your defense. You do not have to defend yourself. When God has delivered you, do not stop what you're doing to answer your accusers. Continue to bless His name, because you do not want your attitude to become defensive. That is just what the devil would expect.

Today's Verse: "Wait for the Lord: Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14)

Often times we want to take control and not wait on the Lord, which can create emotions to run like the rampant waters....but if we simply wait upon the Lord, then it will eliminate the unnecessary floodgates to be broken.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Time alone with God is simply amazing. There are no words to describe the feeling that abounds us when we find quiet time alone with God. As for me, it is as if all my worries and fears subside and I find a renewed strength that carries me from day-to-day without the burdens of yesterday!

Over the years, I've learned the key to success or abundant blessings are not always in the outcome, but in the trials and tribulations along the way. You see, without trials and tests your faith can never be tested or developed. Your faith cannot be embellished in God's favor and grace, nor can your strength be increased. You must learn to accept the bad with the good but understanding the key is to not settle. If you settle for the bad then that is all you will ever know and soon it will become your comfort. Understanding that God has a plan and that you are part of His plan is what will get you started. Knowing that God's plan for you is to not fail or suffer is when you will prevail!

"The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare." (Psalm 25:14-15)

I believe it is not a coincidence that God chose mountains to represent our problems, because they are huge; but if you start speaking words of faith to the mountains, in the authority of the living God and do not doubt, then the mountains will be moved! You do not just pray about your mountains you speak to them and command them to go! You have to command them to move! When you talk about something you magnify it, and make it worse; but when you talk to the problems you are commanding it to "get the behind me!"

My Today's Tip for my facebook account is: Don't focus on the size of the giant - but focus on the size of your God! Believe that He paid the price for your sin & guilt. Believe that He has washed you & made you clean. Have faith that He will reward you when you call on Him & it shall be done! I firmly believe that! I believe that if you have the "faith of a mustard seed" then nothing will be too big to overcome, even when you think it is impossible to climb that mountain.

Do not complain about what is not going your way! Do not grumble about what you believe is happening, change it by commanding the mountain to move and trust that God will give you the strength to move it! If you really want to be set free, and experience restoration, you've got to be in Him, because your healing comes in the Sabbath rest. Your healing comes in Christ Jesus.

Faith is what moves God & when you declare God's favor is when He will turn mountains into moe hills. My challenge to you is to start talking to your mountains and tell it to be removed!

There are times that God did not give me what I asked for...instead He gave me so much more! But only when I was obedient to Him. Often we have to simply know what a real blessing is! Otherwise, we will miss out on what he has in store for us and the rewards and blessings He has bestowed upon us. Obedience always brings blessings! Some of which are eternal blessings.

Truth is, some of the greatest blessings are going to be when we stand before Him. When we are obedient to God's calling, then we become a living vessel and blessing to others and to ourselves. Obedience always brings blessings chosen by God. He may chose to bless us through our obedience in a way we would not chose, but if we will put away our selfishness then we could see the blessings far above what they eyes could see. God blesses obedience if you will just walk down the path He has chosen for you. He will bless you in ways that are beyond our imagination!

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About Me

Hi! Thank you for visiting my profile. I may not be much to some but to Jesus I am somebody special! I am blessed with a loving family and the agility and ability to do what I love, barrel racing and writing. I am still in search of who God wants me to be. I'm far from perfect, but I'll always try to be and do better than the day before. I am a Christian, wife, daughter, sister, aunt and hopefully in Gods time will be a mother. Until then, I'll keep trusting God has a bigger plan and I'll keep seeking his direction! As of March 8, 2012 - God answered my prayers (after 18 years of marriage)& gave me 2 beautiful daughters. One resides in Heaven (Bridgette Dean) and the other (Alexis Elaine) here on earth with her Mommy & Daddy. Thank you Lord for your continued blessings!